Mushahid seeks probe for not submitting INDCs

Mushahid Ullah for conducting inquiry for not submitting INDCs asked for conducting inquiry for not submitting Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) on time. During a meeting of special committee of Senate on Climate Change held under the chairmanship of Senator Ahmed Hussan in the absence of Chairman Senator Mir Muhammad Yousaf Bandani, Mushahid Ullah Khan said: "It is criminal negligence as out 200 countries only two to three countries including Pakistan had submitted INDCs till date which is unfortunate".

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) is a term used under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.The UNFCCC required all countries to submit their carbon emissions reduction contributions by October 1. However, Pakistan has missed the deadline.

The Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid informed the committee that the failure to submit INDCs would not bring any negative impact on Pakistan. He said, "Submitting of INDCs was delayed due to China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as we were not clear how many projects were being conceived, what would be position of the greenhouse gas emissions after that, we do not want to submit any information which cannot be achieved." Zahid Hamid further informed the committee that a comprehensive plan 'Green Pakistan' was being devised to promote forestry across the country."Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has directed the ministry to prepare a comprehensive strategy for the purpose and we have started work on it," he apprised the Committee.

He said consultation process with concerned provincial secretaries had already been initiated as "the national plan, which is at its advanced stage, has to be implemented at the provincial level."Under the strategy, the minister said, trees of special species including juniper, Deodar, Sheesam and pine would be planted in different forest pockets to tackle adverse affects of climate change in the country.

Zahid also informed the body that a Climate Change Inter-Ministerial Authority would be established, aimed at providing a national-level platform to discuss matters pertaining to environmental issues with different ministries and provinces.